Somnium Space, the innovative company hailing from Czechia, is known for their impressive social platforms and now their top-tier PC VR headset, the Somnium VR1, which is seeing a price increase. They’ve justified this decision as necessary to maintain "the highest quality standards."
In a recent announcement, the company shared they would slim down the configurations once available for the Somnium VR1. Starting January 16th, 2025, the remaining three editions would see a price hike, though initially, they didn’t disclose how much that increase would be. Now, they’ve finally released the numbers (pre-tax), and it’s quite a jump—between €500 and €700:
- Visionary Edition: Priced at €2,999 (around $3,090), up from €2,499 ($2,600), this edition includes VR and eye-tracking.
- Titan Edition: At €3,399 (about $3,500), compared to the previous €2,899 ($3,020), it offers VR, eye-tracking, and hand-tracking.
- Ultimate Edition: Now at €4,299 (approximately $4,425), up from €3,499 ($3,659), it boasts VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, and MR passthrough.
The price adjustment, according to a company blog post, is largely due to increased production expenses:
"The changes reflect the complex production processes and our unwavering commitment to providing the best PCVR experience possible. Our dedication to uncompromising quality means incorporating high-grade materials, intricate designs, and stringent quality control, resulting in added production costs. This includes the unfortunate need to scrap some pricey components that don’t make the cut. Each VR1 headset is crafted to not just meet but exceed your expectations," the post explained.
Somnium Space used to offer a broader range of seven consumer variants. The slimming down to three variants—Visionary, Titan, and Ultimate—is likely a strategic move to curb production costs. Among the discontinued variants was the Classic Edition, their entry-level option previously available at €1,900 (~$1,980 USD), which didn’t include eye-tracking.
On top of these announcements, they’re adjusting their delivery schedule. For new orders, the Somnium VR1 will now be shipped between March and April 2025. They are, however, working toward narrowing that window to just a two-week period from order to shipment by mid-2025, serving most of Europe, the UK, and the US.
Curious about what sets the Somnium VR1 apart? You won’t want to miss our firsthand experience at last July’s Somnium Connect event, where we got to see the headset in action.
Somnium VR1 Specifications
- Display: QLED Mini-Led Fast LCD – 2,880 x 2,880 per eye
- Field of View: 130° horizontal, 105° vertical; capable of rendering up to 140° horizontally
- Refresh Rate: Options for 72Hz and 90Hz, with experimental upgrades to 120Hz and 144Hz
- Local Dimming Zones: 576 per eye
- Eye Tracking: 120Hz, with customizable open-source algorithm
- Connectivity: USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio jack
- IPD Range: 57 to 76 mm
Stay tuned for more updates and future prospects from Somnium Space as they continue to innovate in the dynamic world of VR technology.
